Hot water system and valve therefor



June 13,1933. L, w, MS 1,913,622

HOT WATER SYSTEM AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed May 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 alt town 0,13 0.

June 13, 1933. I 1 w w s 1,913,622

HOT WATER SYSTEM AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed May 23, 1932 2 SheetsSheet 2 l.]4(T14 z'ZZ7/'ams Patented M6 3, 1933 LYM ANlw. WInnIAMs, or manne HAUTEQINDIANA- HOT WATER SYSTEM AND ver e THEREFOR n mmmnmea Ma ca 1 a: steam: 613,025.

I yTheinvem-ian relates to systems were nishing hot water to the faucets of hot water draw-tilt lines'leading from hot water storage tanks. Very often, due to aglealring faucet or faucets, onto one or more :faucets not entirely closed, hotwater is joonti'niially discharged from thestoi'agetank, and as the leakage is replaced by cold water entering the tank from the supplyline, the supply of hot water is often moreor less exhausted. My-

invention however, aims to overcome this difficulty by providing novel automatic means for by-passing cold water sufiicient to compensate for leakage, directly into the hot water draw-oft line from the cold water supply line, so that the only water lost from leakage, will be coldwater.

A further object is to provide a novel auto matic valve for co-actionwith proper piping in attaining the above end, and a still further object is to provide an arrangement in which the valve casing and piping act as means for conducting water which circulates through the tank and through a water heater (gas, liquid fuel, electric, furnace coil, range coil, etc.) 1

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplishedby reference to the acconr panying drawings. a

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a system in accordance withthe invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the valve, on line 22 of Fig. 1, the pipes being omitted from this view.

Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional View online Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional view on line scopeof theinvention as ciainied,minor variations may be made.

The numerals l, 53, 9, 10, 11 and 12 denote various portions of a hot water draw-off line leadingffrom the upper end of a hot water storage tank 13, said line beingprovided with one or more faucets 14; Thepa rt' oftlie dr wer-r line is 7 formed by a W f heater wh-iclndue totl'ievalve" and other piping here ingjto the'lower end of: the tank 13, the part martedescribed,furnishes hot waterfor the 6 particularlyin Figs. 2, 3 aud t.-

A by pass for cold water, is providjedfroni tl ecasinglato the hotwater'dischar e line 7 7-1;2, *'sa-icl bypass in the present showing,

consisting partlyofa passage 21' extending is preferably eoaxinwiththe coldwjate'r in let 25and' thecold water outlet 26 of said casing, said seat 24 facing said inlet 25. A normally open, pressure-closed valve 27"is arovidedin th e casing" 19 for cooperation with the'seat 24j. In the present showing, this valve is provided with a hollowstem QSeXtending toward the inlet 25randl'oosely received in aguide" sleeve 29, said sleeve be i ng 'carri'ed'by a'plug 30 which forms one end of" theca sin'g lt). 1 Vlthile water conducting space exists between the stem-28 and the sleeve 29, the latter is preferably formed also with water conducting openings 31.

VVi'th all faucets tightly closed, the valve 27 descends by gravity and remains open. If

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the heater 9 (or other heater) be then operating, water will flow from this heater through the line portions 8, 15 and 7 into the upper end of the tank 13 and will flow back to said heater from the lower end of said tank, through the line portion 20, the casing 19, the passage 21, the by-pass pipe 22, and the line portion 10. r

If one or more of the faucets 14 be open for normal discharge of hot water, the difference between the pressures at opposite sides of the valve 27, causes the latter to immediately close. Then, as hot water is being drawn off through the line 7-12 and the open faucet, cold water enters the tank 13 through the line 1720, flowing through the casing 19, around the passage 21. As soon as the faucet is again closed, valve 27 again drops so that circulation of water may continue. 4

If any faucet or faucets should not be entirely closed, or should leak, instead of the leakage exhausting hot water from the tank 13, such leakage will be only cold water, for with thevalve 27 open, cold water from the casing 19 forming part of the cold water supply line, may pass through the opening 23, through the passage 21 and through the cold water by-pass pipe 22, into the hot water discharge line, with less resistance than the cold water could enter the tank 18 from the supply line to force a discharge of hot water from the latter. It is thus insured that the supply of hot water shall not be exhausted if any faucet or faucets be sufliciently open to permit a subnormal discharge of water.

Another advantage for the system, is that each time hot water is drawn from the line, such water must travel through the water heater, keeping the latter internally clean and preventing liming thereof to alarge extent.

Excellent results are obtainable from the specific construction herein disclosed and such construction is therefore preferably followed. However, attention is again invited to the fact that variations may be made withint-he scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim 1. A valve of the class described comprissupply line of a storage tank, said casing having a permanently open water course from said inlet to said outlet, said casing being further provided with an additional outlet passage for connection with a hot water drawoif line from the tank, the inner end of said additional outlet passage having a valve seat alined with and facing said inlet, a normally open valve co-operable with said seat and having a stem extending toward said inlet, and a guide sleeve slidably receiving said stem, said sleeve being secured to said casing and extending around said inlet.

2. A valve of the class described comprising a vertically elongated casing having an inlet at its lower end and an outlet at its upper end whereby it may be connected in a cold water supply line of a storage tank, said casing being further provided with a tubular outlet passage extending horizontally across its interior, said casing having a permanently open water coursefrom said inlet to said outlet extending at opposite sides of said tubular passage, said tubular passage being closed at one end, being open at its other end for connection with a hot water draw-ofi line from the tank, and between its ends having an opening in its lower side provided with a valve seat, a normally open valve adapted to engage said seat when raised by pressure, said valve having a downwardly projecting stem, and an apertured guide sleeve within said casing and slidably receiving said stem, said guide sleeve being secured to the lower end of said casing and extending around said inlet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LYMAN W. WILLIAMS. 

